Coffee-making and vending machine

ABSTRACT

A coffee-making and vending machine, comprising a motor pump, motors including reciprocating pistons, a boiler with heating element and a thermostat, a distributor group for cups, spoons and sugar, a group for the charging of a measured amount of coffee in a cartridge and discharge of the spent coffee cartridge, a coin selector and an electric circuit including a circuit for the actuating and synchronized stopping of said mechanical parts until completion of the phase of one cycle and control circuit for preventing the flow of electricity to the former in the event that prerequisite conditions for the automatic operation of the assembly are not present.

United States Patent COFFEE-MAKING AND VENDING MACHINE 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 194/13 Int. Cl G07f 13/00 Field of Search 194/ l 3;

Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Att0rneylmirie and Smiley ABSTRACT: A coffee-making and vending machine, comprising a motor pump, motors including reciprocating pistons, a boiler with heating element and a thermostat, a distributor group for cups, spoons and sugar, a group for the charging of a measured amount of coffee in a cartridge and discharge of the spent coffee cartridge, a coin selector and an electric circuit including a circuit for the actuating and synchronized stopping of said mechanical parts until completion of the phase of one cycle and control circuit for preventing the flow of electricity to the former in the event that prerequisite conditions for the automatic operation of the assembly are not present.

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INVENTOR JOSE MARLET BARRERA 0 s v a? Y i ATTORNEYS PATENTEI] m1 1 |97l SHEET 2 [IF 5 TNVENTOR JOSE MARLET BARRERA ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAY] 1 I97! SHEET 3 BF 5 INVENTOR JOSE MARLET BARRERA BY f ATTORNEYS PATENIED Mm 1 I97! SHEET 5 UF 5 v IN VENTOR J03 MARLET BARRERA ATTO R N EYS 1 COFFEE-MAKING AND VENDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The various types of coffee-making and vending machines SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A machine for the making of coffee or brew which comprises a simplified arrangement of the mechanical elements and their operation by an electric control circuit which has a twofold action, namely, actuating the mechanical parts and controlling the operation of the coffee maker and the automatic operation of its various parts, so as to remove from the coffee maker any possibility of operating when the precise circumstances or conditions for the proper operation of the coffee maker do not exist, such as, for instance, the use of improper coins, a lack of coffee in the loading device, inadequate temperature, lack of cups, sugar or spoons to be employed by the coffee maker itself for its use by the consumer, or any other abnormality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of the machine;

FIG. 2 is aside view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial detail;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the attachment of the cartridgeholder disc;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the receptacle for the dispensing of the cups;

FIG. 6 shows a detail of the sugar storage receptacle;

FIG. 7 is a view of the boiler; and

FIG. 8 is the wiring diagram of the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a main frame component 10 of the machine rotatably supports a turntable 12 that is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced openings 14 for the reception of coffee supply cartridges 16. The turntable is mounted upon a shaft 18 and this shaft carries a pawl 20 by means of which rotation in step-bystep fashion of the turntable 12 is effected.

As is shown in FIG. 2, a guide mechanism 22 is adapted to receive a supply of the coffee containers 16 and to feed them one-by-one into the openings 14 as the turntable 12 rotates. A hot water supply assembly 24 is located in-vertical registry above the turntable 12 above one position of the openings 14 for dispensing hot water through the associated coffee container 16. The frame 10 also mounts a supply or guide assembly 26 for a stack of paper cups 28, such a supply of cups being disposed in vertical registry above the opening 28 leading to the discharge chute for the brewed coffee.

The frame portion 10 also mounts a pair of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 30 and 32 which act in double acting fashion on a piston rod 34 so as to impart opposite reciprocal motions thereto. Mounted below the piston rod 34 is a crank lever 36 which is supported by a pivot pin 38 connected to the frame portion 10 and the piston rod 34 is provided with a pin 40 for imparting oscillatory motion to the crank 36 in response to reciprocation of the piston rod 34.

Fixed to the pivot pin 38 on the underside of the frame 10 is a lever 42 which oscillates in unisonwith the lever 36 and which is provided adjacent its opposite ends with pin members 44 and 46 for actuation of a connecting rod 48 and a slide 50 respectively. In the normal position of the part, the slide 50 has a semicircular edge portion 52 registering just inside the opening 28 in the frame 10 through which the stack of cups is to pass and this edge 52 engages beneath the rim of the lowermost'cup and supports the entire stack thereabove. When the piston rod 34 is actuated to impart oscillatory motions to the levers 36 and 42 and thus, in the initial movement, to withdraw the edge 52 from beneath the lip of the aforementioned lowermost cup, the entire stack drops slightly so that the rim of the lowermost cup falls to a lower level and is supported by the member 60, FIG. 5.

To assure that the now unsupported lowermost cup is separated from the stack thereabove, a straddling member 62 carried on a pivot 64 on the slide 50 is moved into engagement above the rim of the lowermost cup at the end of the forward stroke of the piston rod 34 such that near the end of the stroke, the lower edge of the straddling member 62 strikes an abutment surface 66 to tilt it in the position shown in FIG. 5 and forces down the lowermost cup beyond the supporting member 60, thus to be disposed within the cup chute 68 shown in FIG. 2 whereat the cup comes to rest on a bead member 70, substantially as is shown. The cup will remain here, as will presently appear, until the weight of the contents thereof forces it past the rim support member 70 and, in consequence, pivots the beam member 72 to actuate the switch device 74.

The aforementioned rod 48 is provided with an elongate lost motion slot 78 engaging with the pin 44 and this rod, after lost motion, actuates the ratchet wheel 20 through the medium of pawl member 80 thereby to impart one step of rotation to the wheel 12. Upon initiation of this stepwise rotation to the turntable 12, a spent coffee supply container 16 is ejected through the camming action imparted thereto by the discharge chute edge 82 and a fresh coffee supply container is brought to the station 84 directly beneath the hot water supply assembly 24. The lever 42 also carries a pin which actuates a connecting rod 92 supported by a spring 94 at its free end, FIG. 2, through the medium of the connection of the spring to the pin 96.

A lever plate 100, FIG. 3, is mounted on a pivot 102 to the frame 10 and the plate is located above a supply of spoons I04 so as to eject one spoon through a discharge chute, not shown, for access bythe user of such discharged spoon. The plate 100 is actuated in response to reciprocation of the connecting rod 92 and, more especially, by the pin 96 thereof. The plate 100 carries a pivot pin 106 which, through a connecting rod 108, and a lost motion slot 110 and pin connection 112 to a lever I14, operates to eject a coin 116 if change is necessary for the user. The coin is the endmost one of a stack of such coins disposed within the coin supply assembly 118.

A further connecting rod 120 is actuated by the lever 42 and is pivotally connected by a pin 122, FIG. 4, to a cam element 124 which is carried within a guide 126 immediately below the turntable I2 and operates upon reciprocation thereof to force a ball member 128 against the action of a spring 130 upwardly against the fresh coffee supply container or cartridge 16 until it engages tightly against the sealing member 130a at the lower end of the hot water supply unit 24. Thus, the coffee container 16 is raised slightly with respect to the turntable 12 and pressed into sealing engagement with the lower, hot water discharge end of the hot water supply assembly 24 and, thereafter, hot water is discharged into the coffee container 16 and through the discharge orifice 132 of the unit 24.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hot water supply assembly 24 includes a housing 134 within which the supply of water is contained and disposed within the container 134 is a heater 144, preferably electrically operated, which is controlled by a thermostat 154 in accord with the temperature of the water within the chamber 134. A fresh water inlet conduit 146 leads into the interior of the chamber 134 and a valve 148 normally closes the passage through the hot water discharge tube 150 to the outlet conduit portion 132. The valve 148 is under control of an actuator 152.

The pivot pin 38 is provided with an arm 156 which operates in a notch I58 in a lever 160, FIG. 6, to impart oscillatory motion to a plate 162 to which the lever 160 is pinned by a pivot 164. The plate 162 is joumaled on an axle 166 which carries a star wheel assembly 168, the individual pad dles 170 of which are adapted to sequentially dispense sugar cubes 172 disposed in a supply chute 174. The plate 162 carries, by means of a pin 176, a spring urged pawl member 178 which engages with a ratchet wheel portion 180 rigid with the star wheel 168 and by means of which step-by-step rotation of the star wheel is effected.

The control circuit for the assemblage described hereinabove will be understood from a study of FIG. 8. A three-conductor power source 200 may be of any suitable AC supply voltage which is passed through a rectifier device 204, through a main control switch 206 which normally is closed to the supply circuit and control mechanism. The main control supply is across two of the supply conductors 208 and 210 and the hot water heater 144 normally connected directly across this supply but with the thermostat switch 212 connected in series therewith so as to open the supply circuit to the heater 144 when the water reaches a predetermined temperature. A further thermostatically controlled switch 214 closes only when the water is of a predetermined temperature.

When a coin is inserted into the machine, the switch 216 is closed and the coin remains in this position until the end of the control operation, As soon as the coin switch 216 is closed, the circuit through the winding 218 of a relay is completed to close the switches 220, 222 and 224 to energize the motor 226 which drives a pump connected to the fresh water supply and feeds this supply water under pressure to the heater assembly through the inlet conduit 146 thereof to pressurize the water within the container 134. At the same time, this water under pressure is utilized to drive the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 30 and 32.

Control of the two cylinders 30 and 32 initially is through distributor valves 228 and 230 which are energized in response to closing of the coin switch 216, through a conductor 232, a normally closed switch 234, and the position responsive switch 236. The two distributor valves 228 and 230 impart forward stroke motion to the piston rod 34 and, correspondingly, oscillate the levers 36 and 42. When the mechanism reaches the end of its initial stroke, the position switch 236 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 8 to a position energizing the distributor valves 238 and 240 which impart return motion to the piston rod 34. When the assemblage returns to its initial or end stroke position, the switch 242 closes to energize a relay coil 244 which then opens the switch 234 and deenergizes all of the distributor valves.

At this time, provided that the control circuitry is in proper condition, a discharge water solenoid valve actuator 152 will be energized to discharge hot water through the coffee supply container 16. It will be understood, of course, that the coffee supply containers are in the form of closed containers having perforated tops and bottoms to allow the passage of hot water therethrough and through the coffee ingredient content thereof.

The coin control portion of the assemblage includes a coil or actuator 250 which, when energized, serves to retain the coin position so that the coin switch 216 remains closed. Since the temperature responsive switch 214 is in series directly with the supply current, through the switch 252, it will be appreciated that unless the switch 252 is in the position shown in FIG. 8 and the switch 214 is closed due to proper operating temperature of the water, the actuating coil 250 will not operate to retain the coin and maintain the switch 216 closed. Under the conditions in which either of the switches 252 or 214 is open, the coin will simply drop through the mechanism and be returned to the user.

The switch 252 is actuated by a winding 254 of a relay of which the switch 252 forms a part, and it will be understood that when the winding 254 is energized to move the switch 252, the contact 256 is connected to the current supply conductor 258, and the coin will be either returned to the user as aforesaid or, in the event that the winding 260 has been energized as hereinafter described, the coin will be deposited within the machine. Thus, after the piston rod 34 has completed its stroke, and no abnormalities in the system are detected, a conductor 262 will be energized by closure of the switch 242 to supply the winding 260 so that when the winding 254 is subsequently actuated, the coin will be dispensed internally of the machine. However, a switch 264 is provided in normally open condition if a coffee container 16 is present in the proper position, such switch being a microswitch if desired to sense the presence of such coffee container. 1f the coffee container is absent, the switch 264 will be closed and promptly upon closure of the coin switch 216, a conductor 266 will be energized to actuate the coil 254 and return the coin to the user, simultaneously opening the coin switch 216 and disabling the machine. It will be noted that when the winding 254 is energized, the winding 260 will be energized, returning the coin deflecting means operated by the winding 260 to its other position.

Similarly, a normally open switch 268 senses whether or not a cup is present at a position to be dropped into the supply chute 68, P16. 2. A further switch 280 is provided in series with the switch 268, and this latter switch 280 is actuated by the relay winding 282.

The limit switch 242, HO. 1, is closed during the return stroke of the mechanism after all of the mechanisms are in operative position and remains closed sufficiently long to allow the water dispensing operation and then the limit switch 242 reopens, deenergizing the winding 282 and allowing the switch 280 to reclose. By this time, the switch 268 has closed by virtue of the weight of the dispensed coffee acting on the container supported by the ring 70 tripping the lever 72 and actuating the switch 74 which corresponds to the switch 268. This action energizes the coil 254 to move the switch 252 to the position in which it engages the contact 256 which, because the winding 260 previously had been energized, allows the coin to fall into the machine and consequently to open the coin switch 216, deenergizing the control circuit. An isolating diode or rectifier 290 is provided for obvious purposes.

1 claim:

1. in a vending-dispensing apparatus for producing a beverage by infusing a pressurized liquid through an apertured cartridge containing an ingredient from which the beverage infusion is to be produced, comprising in combination:

a support frame;

turntable means journaled for rotation on said support frame,

said turntable means including a station for removably receiving a cartridge containing a beverage-producing ingredient;

cartridge supply means on said frame including means for orienting one cartridge at a time at said station for receiving said cartridges;

container supply means on said frame including means for removably orienting a beverage-receiving container beneath said station;

liquid supply means overlying said station for urging the pressurized liquid through said station when said container and cartridge are in overlying aligned relation;

fluid motor means including operating portions operatively connected to said turntable means, cartridge supply means and container supply means for sequentially orienting the same when a beverage is to be produced; pump means operatively connected to said liquid supply means and fluid motor means for operating the same;

a first electrical circuit operatively connected to said pump means for actuating the same; and

a coin-operated control circuit operatively connected to said first circuit for energizing the same in relation to operative conditions of the aforementioned means for effecting the production of a beverage infusion.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said fluid motor means operating portions comprise levers mechanically connected to said cup supply means, turntable means and cartridges'upply means, said cartridge supply means including a portion for receiving a cartridge and sealingly engaging it beneath said liquid supply means whereby a charge of liquid is urged through the cartridge when a beverage infusion is being produced.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said circuits include a plurality of partial control circuits for effecting deactivation of said apparatus when one or more prerequisite beverage-producing conditions are absent.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said coinoperated control circuit includes a coin selector for effecting operating of said apparatus and operating said pump means for effecting actuation of said fluid motor means and said liquid supply means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including mixing element supply means and sweetening supply means on said frame, said last mentioned means including control portions operatively connected to said control circuit.

6. A control circuit for a coin-operated coffee making machine of the type having an apertured coffee cartridge supply, a pressurized hot water supply having a discharge portion and means operatively connected to said circuit forcontrolling pressurized discharge of hot water therefrom, means for sequentially orienting a cartridge into operative position with respect to said discharge portion of the hot water supply; and means for sequentially dispensing cups into a position for receiving the brewed coffee, the control circuit comprising, in combination:

heater means for heating supply water including means for maintaining a substantially constant temperature;

coin retainer means for temporarily holding a coin deposited in the machine;

means for energizing said coin retainer means including a switch closed only in response to a predetermined supply water temperature, means for rejecting a coin until the water supply has attained a predetermined temperature;

said means for energizing said coin retainer means including a normally closed switch;

an actuator for opening said normally closed switch to deenergize said coin retainer means and including a coinoperated switch closed in response to the presence of a coin retained by said coin retainer means;

a normally open switch which is closed in the absence of a cup for receiving brewed coffee to energize said actuator;

a primary circuit for controlling dispensing of hot water including a first switch which is closed at a predetermined interval during a cycle of producing the coffee, and a normally closed switch which is opened in response to filling a cup with brewed coffee; and a secondary circuit controlled by said first switch and including an actuator for diverting a released coin into the machine, and an actuator for temporarily disabling said nonnally open switch. 7. The control circuit set forth in claim 6 including a relay controlled by said coin-operated switch, a motor controlled by said relay, fluid motor means for cycling the machine, an electromechanical valve means for actuating said fluid motor means, said electromechanical valve means including a position responsive switch means.

8. The control circuit as set forth in claim 7 including actuating lever means operatively connected to said fluid motor means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine. 

1. In a vending-dispensing apparatus for producing a beverage by infusing a pressurized liquid through an apertured cartridge containing an ingredient from which the beverage infusion is to be produced, comprising in combination: a support frame; turntable means journaled for rotation on said support frame, said turntable means including a station for removably receiving a cartridge containing a beverage-producing ingredient; cartridge supply means on said frame including means for orienting one cartridge at a time at said station for receiving said cartridgeS; container supply means on said frame including means for removably orienting a beverage-receiving container beneath said station; liquid supply means overlying said station for urging the pressurized liquid through said station when said container and cartridge are in overlying aligned relation; fluid motor means including operating portions operatively connected to said turntable means, cartridge supply means and container supply means for sequentially orienting the same when a beverage is to be produced; pump means operatively connected to said liquid supply means and fluid motor means for operating the same; a first electrical circuit operatively connected to said pump means for actuating the same; and a coin-operated control circuit operatively connected to said first circuit for energizing the same in relation to operative conditions of the aforementioned means for effecting the production of a beverage infusion.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said fluid motor means operating portions comprise levers mechanically connected to said cup supply means, turntable means and cartridge supply means, said cartridge supply means including a portion for receiving a cartridge and sealingly engaging it beneath said liquid supply means whereby a charge of liquid is urged through the cartridge when a beverage infusion is being produced.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said circuits include a plurality of partial control circuits for effecting deactivation of said apparatus when one or more prerequisite beverage-producing conditions are absent.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said coin-operated control circuit includes a coin selector for effecting operating of said apparatus and operating said pump means for effecting actuation of said fluid motor means and said liquid supply means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including mixing element supply means and sweetening supply means on said frame, said last mentioned means including control portions operatively connected to said control circuit.
 6. A control circuit for a coin-operated coffee making machine of the type having an apertured coffee cartridge supply, a pressurized hot water supply having a discharge portion and means operatively connected to said circuit for controlling pressurized discharge of hot water therefrom, means for sequentially orienting a cartridge into operative position with respect to said discharge portion of the hot water supply; and means for sequentially dispensing cups into a position for receiving the brewed coffee, the control circuit comprising, in combination: heater means for heating supply water including means for maintaining a substantially constant temperature; coin retainer means for temporarily holding a coin deposited in the machine; means for energizing said coin retainer means including a switch closed only in response to a predetermined supply water temperature, means for rejecting a coin until the water supply has attained a predetermined temperature; said means for energizing said coin retainer means including a normally closed switch; an actuator for opening said normally closed switch to deenergize said coin retainer means and including a coin-operated switch closed in response to the presence of a coin retained by said coin retainer means; a normally open switch which is closed in the absence of a cup for receiving brewed coffee to energize said actuator; a primary circuit for controlling dispensing of hot water including a first switch which is closed at a predetermined interval during a cycle of producing the coffee, and a normally closed switch which is opened in response to filling a cup with brewed coffee; and a secondary circuit controlled by said first switch and including an actuator for diverting a released coin into the machine, and an actuator for temporarily disabling said normally open switch.
 7. The control circuit set forth in claim 6 includinG a relay controlled by said coin-operated switch, a motor controlled by said relay, fluid motor means for cycling the machine, an electromechanical valve means for actuating said fluid motor means, said electromechanical valve means including a position responsive switch means.
 8. The control circuit as set forth in claim 7 including actuating lever means operatively connected to said fluid motor means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine. 